In celebration of Ballard's green spaces, Groundswell NW features and celebrates a "Park of the Month" and the community around it. In April, the spotlight is on Crown Hill's Baker Park and the Ballard Garden Club that maintains it.

Acquired with Open Space Bond Program "opportunity fund" dollars, Baker Park was opened in 1997 after years of work by community members to transform the 0.4 acres of open space into a little gem of a park in an underserved part of the city.

Baker Park has a small play area with wood chips, a pedestrian path that meanders through it, and Totem Pole made from a monkey puzzle tree. It complements the curriculum of neighborhood daycare and after-school programs that surround the park.

Designated as a "Pesticide-Free Park", Baker Park is unofficially maintained by the Ballard Garden Club.

Over the years, the BGC has been meeting occasionally at Baker Park to fluff up leaves, trim branches and extract a few of the more pernicious weeds.

"Community service projects were sporadic until we connected with Baker Park," writes Mary O'Loughin of the Barden Garden Club about the park. "Many of our members live close to and enjoy Baker Park, and it seems just the right size for our interest and abilities. Although the BGC has not officially adopted Baker Park as a community service project; we just seem to keep showing up to prune and pull weeds."

The BGC's mission to provide opportunities for Ballard gardeners to socialize, learn from each other, provide education opportunities and facilitate the exchange of plants, seeds, produce and labor between Ballard gardeners.

"Good conversation, laughter, meditative weeding, crawling around on hands and knees in pursuit of shotweed, dandelion and the elusive tip of the burdock root are not the stuff of legend, but it is very satisfying at the end of a project to see the yard-waste containers filled to the brim," O'Loughin said.

Seattle parks are feeling the effects of the current economic times and the BGC members and Groundswell NW recognize the need to increase our efforts to contribute toward keeping Seattle parks a wonderful source for the community to enjoy.